The current salary of a software developer – how much can you earn in this profession?


According to Glassdoor, the average software developer salary in the United States is $82,360 per year, with benefits and bonuses adding another $8,400 per year on average. But that’s just an average – what can you earn in this profession? To give you a better idea of your earning potential in this field, we reached out to some software developers to get their take on starting salaries, years of experience vs. salaries, and the most common mistakes made by people looking to enter the industry.


How much do entry-level developers make?

According to PayScale, the median entry-level software developer salary is $60,000. This figure will vary depending on geographic location and experience level. For example, PayScale reports that developers with five years or more experience make about three times as much as their less experienced counterparts at $120,000 per year. It is also worth noting that some developers may choose to accept an hourly wage rather than an annual one if they are only working part time or want more flexibility in their work schedule.


Which states offer the highest salaries for software developers?

Software developers are among the most lucrative professions out there. After all, they're the ones who bring your favorite apps and games to life. But where are they making the most money? We looked at statistics on salaries for programmers in every state to find out which ones offer the highest salaries for software developers. 

*New York - $147,020 *Washington D.C. - $145,760 *California - $142,870 *Maryland - $138,730 *Virginia - $137,860


Which cities offer the highest salaries for software developers?

Software developers are some of the highest paid professionals in the country, with an average annual salary just over $100,000. The most lucrative cities for developers are San Jose, Seattle, and Oakland. 

San Jose has the highest annual salaries for software developers at $140,231. These high salaries have been attributed to Silicon Valley's booming economy and high demand for qualified candidates. 

Seattle is another good city for developers with an average annual salary of $124,856. This is due to Microsoft being headquartered there and Microsoft's CEO Satya Nadella focusing on cloud computing as well as artificial intelligence development. 

Oakland rounds out our list with an average annual salary of $118,690.


What are some factors that affect a software developer's salary?

A software developer's salary may vary depending on the type of job, experience, and location. An entry-level or junior-level position might pay as low as $50,000 per year or less. A mid-career position might pay $70,000 to $80,000 per year. A senior-level position might pay $110,000 to $130,000 per year. Many factors affect a programmer's salary like years of experience with programming languages and technologies; level of expertise; employer size; geographic region; cost of living; and demand for qualified programmers.


The bottom line – how much can you expect to earn as a software developer?

If you're considering becoming a software developer, then it's important to know what your earning potential is. This guide will give an overview of the average salary and some factors that will determine what your final pay will be. It's also important to note that the cost of living is higher in cities such as San Francisco and New York, so if these are on your radar then be sure to take that into consideration when looking at the following information. To start off, data from CareerOneStop shows that the median salary for a software developer is $83,000 per year. That means half of all developers make more than $83,000 annually and half make less than $83,000 annually.


The bottom line – how much can you expect to earn as a software developer

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, as of May 2017, the average annual wage for computer programmers is $105,690. The median annual wage is $90,590. The bottom 10% make less than $54,190 and the top 10% make more than $158,230. That’s why it’s important to be aware of how competitive your skills are on the market. For example, experienced Java Developers with fewer than five years experience are earning an average salary of $103,871 per year while those with 20+ years experience are earning an average salary of over $148,000 per year.


Conclusion

It's difficult to tell the exact amount of money that a software developer will make, but there is no way for them to work without making any money at all. With experience, it is possible for developers to make more than $100,000 per year. It's also possible for developers to make less than $40,000 per year if they are just starting out and do not have the skills necessary to be successful.